With the game deadlocked at 3 to start the final period, the Bulldogs (9-0, 8-0 MCHA) overwhelmed Concordia from the opening faceoff. Adrian outshot the Falcons 20-8 in the third period, but only needed a single goal from Josh Ranalli to earn the win.

The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 18-2 this season in the final stanza.

"We've set up and established a system in the third period," said Adrian coach Ron Fogarty. "The guys know what they need to do and take care of it."

The Bulldogs got off to a hot start in the opening period. After a stalemate for the first 10 minutes of play, the Bulldogs struck first when Zach Wilson zipped the puck over the Concordia goaltender Jake Hebda's left shoulder. The Bulldogs continued to roll, adding a second goal just a few minutes later from Duston Hebebrand to make it 2-0.

In what became a reoccurring theme of the game, the Bulldogs committed a penalty, giving the Falcons a power-play. Concordia made Adrian pay, scoring just eight seconds into the power play to make it 2-1 heading into the first intermission

Concordia was called for a penalty within the first minute of the second period. Adrian took advantage of the opportunity when Zach Graham took a deflected pass and slammed the puck past Hebda to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead. It would be the last bright spot of the period for Adrian.

The two teams went back-and-forth over the next 10 minutes, both coming close to scoring but unable to find the back of the net. With just over 10 minutes remaining in the period, the Bulldogs fell apart. Adrian committed penalty after penalty, finishing with seven in the period and did not get back to full strength until there was just 49 seconds left in the period. Concordia, who had four penalties of its own in the period, made the Bulldogs pay dearly, scoring two goals and tying the game.

"We had nine penalties on the night," said Fogarty. "Anytime you give a team nine chances like that, you're going to get beat a few times. We played great while it was 5-on-5, but that wasn't too often in the second period."

Concordia finished 3-for-9 on power-plays, while Adrian went 1-for-5.

After a rough second period, the Bulldogs came out with a new fire in the third. Adrian struck when Shaquille Merasty beat a Concordia player to a loose puck in his own end and sent a pass that landed directly on Ranalli's stick. Ranalli was hit hard directly in front of the Concordia goal, but it was too late as his shot sailed into the back of the net as he crashed onto the ice.

Page 2 of 2 - "I just called for a chip pass, and Shaquille laid it in perfectly," Ranalli said. "I cut in on the goalie and got lucky with my second whack at it. I actually fanned on it my first try."

Now up 4-3 and the momentum firmly in their corner, the Bulldogs played tough the remaining minutes and rolled to their ninth consecutive win.

"I'm very happy with this win," Fogarty said. "We're now off to the second-best start in program history — the best is 10-0. It's been a process getting here, and we'll be 0-0 again when we meet (Wisconsin) Stevens Point at the end of the month."

Fogarty also made sure to give a lot of credit to a tough Concordia team.

"They played very hard tonight," he said. "When you have 23 freshman from junior hockey teams, you're going to be good. The league has gotten better since our freshman took it by storm in our first season. Concordia is going to be a very good team very quickly."

Adrian goalie James Hamby finished with 35 saves and only allowed goals when the Bulldogs were shorthanded.

Adrian will now take a break and won't play again until it hosts Stevens Point on Dec. 29. During that game, the Bulldogs will be looking to tie the best start in school history.

"I hope we can do it," said Ranalli. "We're looking pretty good, and we're all on the same page. Now we get to enjoy this break and then get back to it."